V.A.N (song)

"V.A.N" (an acronym for "Violence Against Nature")^[1] is a song by American band Bad Omens and American singer-songwriter Poppy. The song was released through Sumerian Records on January 25, 2024.^[2] It served as the lead single from the band's upcoming reissue album Concrete Jungle [The OST].

"V.A.N"
Single by Bad Omens and Poppy
from the album Concrete Jungle [The OST]
Released	January 25, 2024 (2024-01-25)
Genre	Industrial metal
Length	4:35
Label	Sumerian
Songwriter(s)	Noah Sebastian Joakim Karlsson Michael Taylor
Producer(s)	Noah Sebastian Joakim Karlsson
Bad Omens singles chronology
"The Death of Peace of Mind" (2023) "V.A.N" (2024) "Novocaine" (2024)
Poppy singles chronology
"Moonage Daydream" (2023) "V.A.N" (2024) "Suffocate" (2024)
Music video
"V.A.N" on YouTube

The song premiered on SiriusXM's Octane radio station hours before its official release.^[3]

Background

 

"V.A.N" was performed entirely by Poppy (pictured in 2018).

In September 2023, Poppy announced that she would be supporting Bad Omens across Europe for their Concrete Forever Tour, ahead of her own Zig Tour in support of her fifth album Zig (2023).^[4] In January 2024, Bad Omens deleted all of their Instagram posts and began posting video teasers that featured Poppy.^[5]

Composition

"V.A.N" is an industrial metal song that features lead vocals from Poppy only.^[6] The sci-fi-themed song includes inspiration from Bad Omens' comic book Concrete Jungle.^[7] It tells a story of an artificial intelligence entity that would destroy humanity.^[7]

Speaking about the song, Sebastian elaborated:

"That's a song that started just with the hook 'Violence against nature', and then after saving the project with the acronym and seeing it we realized it could be fun to think of 'VAN' as a name. Thus the rabbit hole of ideas began that led us to decide to write lyrics from the perspective of an artificial intelligence gone rogue."

Music video

The music video for "V.A.N" was released alongside the song, and was directed by Garrett Nicholson and Poppy. The visuals were inspired by the video game Portal, the film Ex Machina, and the TV show Stranger Things.^[8]

On March 29, 2024, an official live video was released, which features Poppy and Bad Omens performing the song in Europe.^[9]

Live performance

Bad Omens and Poppy debuted the song live in Berlin on January 27, 2024.^[10]

Charts

Chart performance for "V.A.N"

Chart (2024)	Peak position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)^[11]	81
UK Singles Sales (OCC)^[12]	88
UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[13]	25
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[14]	39

Release history

"V.A.N" release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	January 25, 2024	Digital download streaming	Sumerian	^[2]
	July 19, 2024	12-inch vinyl	Sumerian M	^[15]
	July 22, 2024	12-inch picture disc		^[16]

References

1. "Hear BAD OMENS and POPPY join forces on epic new song "V.A.N."". Revolver. 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
2. V.A.N - Single by Bad Omens & Poppy on Apple Music, 2024-01-24, retrieved 2024-01-30
3. Blabbermouth (2024-01-24). "BAD OMENS And POPPY Join Forces On New Single 'V.A.N'". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
4. "Poppy Releases Single and Video For "Hard" (Watch)". Bass Magazine. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
5. Ordonez, Eli (2024-01-24). "Bad Omens wipe Instagram before sharing new teasers with Poppy". NME. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
6. Magazine, Alternative Press (2024-01-24). "Bad Omens tap Poppy for intense new single "V.A.N."". Alternative Press Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
7. "BAD OMENS reveal new single with POPPY, "V.A.N"". lambgoat.com. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
8. "Bad Omens Poppy VAN". 2024-01-24. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
9. "See BAD OMENS and POPPY play "V.A.N" in new official live video". Revolver. 2024-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-28.
10. Wilkes, Emma (2024-01-28). "Watch Bad Omens and Poppy debut 'V.A.N.' live in Berlin". NME. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
11. "Official Singles Downloads Chart". Official Charts Company. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
12. "Official Singles Sales Chart". Official Charts Company. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
13. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart". Official Charts Company. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
14. "Bad Omens Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
15. "BAD OMENS x POPPY "V.A.N" 12" (Limited Edition – Only 1000 each, Viole". Revolver. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
16. "BAD OMENS / POPPY: V.A.N 12" PICTURE DISC (PRE-ORDER) – Bad Omens store". Bad Omens. Retrieved May 6, 2024.